Television in Japan
In 1926, Kenjiro Takayanagi demonstrated a cathode ray tube television with 40-line resolution. This event marked the first working example of a fully electronic television receiver in history. The demonstration took place at his laboratory during a period when mechanical systems dominated global research. Takayanagi used a combined Nipkow disk and electronic Braun tube system to scan subjects. He successfully reproduced the Katakana character イ on the 13th of December 1926. By 1928, he transmitted human faces in half-tones for the first time. His team developed a video receiver capable of reproducing images with 441 lines at 30 frames per second. This specification stood as the best on the market until 1931. The Ministry of Communications merged local stations into Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai in 1926. Research continued despite the cancellation of the planned Tokyo Olympics in July 1938. An experimental signal broadcast from the STRL antenna occurred on the 13th of May 1939.
Regular television broadcasting began in Japan on the 1st of February 1953. NHK started its programming that day, running approximately seven hours from 2:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Commercial broadcaster Nippon Television (NTV) became operational on the 28th of August 1953. Only 3,000 television sets existed when regular broadcasts commenced. By March 1954, subscriber numbers reached just 17,000 compared to over eleven million radio listeners. High costs initially slowed diffusion among households. Televisions were installed in city centers, train stations, and parks to attract large crowds. The number of black and white televisions sold exceeded 2 million by the end of the 1950s. In 1958, the Tokyo Tower was inaugurated as a symbol of economic growth. By 1959, the number of sets had increased to 12 million following the royal wedding of Crown Prince Akihito. KRT, Fuji TV, and NET signed on during the second half of the 1950s. Eighteen private radio stations operated by 1952.
Japan introduced color television on the 10th of September 1960 using the NTSC standard. This made Japan the third country globally to introduce color broadcasting after the United States and Cuba. Only 1,200 units were sold in the year color broadcasts began due to high prices. Production volume grew from 4,000 units in 1962-1963 to 1.28 million in 1967. Over 6.4 million units were sold by 1970. NHK began research into video and sound interactions in 1964 after the Tokyo Olympics. The new system called NHK Color created in 1972 included 1,125 lines with a 5:3 aspect ratio. In 1989, NHK launched analog Hi-Vision broadcasts via satellite through the MUSE compression system. This system featured 1125 lines at 60 frames per second. The initial aspect ratio was later upgraded to 16:9. Research into high definition had begun in the sixties when Takashi Fujio believed technology reached sufficient maturity. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers tested HDTV systems from various companies.
Japan developed the ISDB-T standard for digital terrestrial television in the 2000s. First transmission tests using this new generation standard began in 2003 in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya metropolitan areas. The transition to digital television took place between 2010 and 2011 through phased regional switching off of analog signals. Most of the country completed the switch-over on the 24th of July 2011. Three prefectures delayed their switchoff until the 31st of March 2012 due to the Tōhoku earthquake. The 333m Tokyo Tower proved insufficient to cover the Kantō area with digital signals. A new tower standing 634m high was built as a result. The Tokyo Skytree was inaugurated in 2012 in the Sumida ward. Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting services started in December 2003. By October 2007, 27 million HD receivers had been sold in Japan. The 1seg function launched in 2006 allowed users to watch TV on mobile phones via digital terrestrial networks.
All Japanese households possessing at least one television set must hold a license fee. Funds primarily subsidize NHK, the public service broadcaster. Fees vary from ¥12,276 to ¥21,765 depending on payment method and timing. Households residing in Okinawa Prefecture pay reduced rates between ¥10,778 and ¥20,267. Households on welfare may be excused from paying the license fee. No legal authority exists to impose sanctions or fines for non-payment. People often throw away bills and turn away bill collectors without consequence. Commercial broadcasters are financed by advertising revenue instead of mandatory fees. The market for commercial broadcasting liberalized following World War II reforms. Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai became an independent company supported by the licence fee paid by listeners in 1950.
Most commercial television stations sign on between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. every morning. Early morning hours feature news programs running from around 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Late morning shows target wives who have finished housework until about 1:30 p.m. Young kid-oriented anime starts at 4:00 p.m. and ends around 7:00 p.m. Evening news programs air before 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. The Golden Hour runs from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. where TV stations pour most resources. Japanese television dramas run from 9:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. Stations run late night news mostly at the 11:00 p.m. hour. Anime series often air only at night from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. These series make profits primarily through Blu-ray Disc sales rather than advertising. Advertisers sponsor programs rather than buying time during commercial breaks.
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Common questions
When did Kenjiro Takayanagi demonstrate the first working electronic television in Japan?
Kenjiro Takayanagi demonstrated the first working example of a fully electronic television receiver on the 13th of December 1926. This demonstration took place at his laboratory and successfully reproduced the Katakana character イ using a combined Nipkow disk and electronic Braun tube system.
What date marked the beginning of regular television broadcasting in Japan?
Regular television broadcasting began in Japan on the 1st of February 1953 when NHK started its programming. Commercial broadcaster Nippon Television (NTV) became operational later that year on the 28th of August 1953.
Which country was the third to introduce color television after the United States and Cuba?
Japan introduced color television on the 10th of September 1960 using the NTSC standard, making it the third country globally to do so. Only 1,200 units were sold in the year color broadcasts began due to high prices.
On what date did most of Japan complete the transition from analog to digital television signals?
Most of the country completed the switch-over to digital television on the 24th of July 2011 through phased regional switching off of analog signals. Three prefectures delayed their switchoff until the 31st of March 2012 due to the Tōhoku earthquake.
How much does a license fee for Japanese households range between depending on payment method?
Fees vary from ¥12,276 to ¥21,765 depending on payment method and timing for all Japanese households possessing at least one television set. Households residing in Okinawa Prefecture pay reduced rates between ¥10,778 and ¥20,267.